Leaky garden hose. (help!)

[Peepthis541]

Ok, so after being very impressed with the auto waterer design by FutureChickenMan (https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=4655-Auto_Waterer), I decided to give it a shot and build one. After getting all the supposed hard parts done, I ran into a water leaking problem from my garden hose. So I went back to the hardware store and got a valve replacement for my garden hose, which hooks up to the auto-waterer. I thought all my problems were solved earlier today, but when I observed the connections this evening, I saw the hose still leaking!
I was wondering if anyone has had similar problems with fittings. I am thinking of replacing the hose entirely with a heavy duty goodyear hose (reddish color). But I am still nervous that maybe it is a water pressure issue. Perhaps there is just too much pressure in the line.

Unfortunately, I don't see the auto-waterer working to its fullest potential if there is no water flow to the unit.

I've even thought to maybe just connect the unit to another 5 gallon bucket that will sit on top of the unit and that can be periodically refilled. And instead of it being connected to a pressurized water supply, it is just fed down to the unit by gravity.

Well, I would appreciate any ideas from some of the creative minds out there.

Thanks!

 

[Namaste Mama]

Ok I don't know what its called but theres some sore of teflon white tape stuff you could wrap around the threads that should stop the leaking. Maybe someone here will know what I'm talking about.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

its called "teflon tape...." LOL

Look for it in the Plumbing section at the hardward store...

 

[Peepthis541]

Quote:
I am well acquainted with teflon tape. But this leak is not happening at that spot. It is happening between the hose and the hose clamp that tightens the hose to the heavy duty brass fitting that is acting as a replacement to the original (weak metal) hose valve.

 

[Trollkiller]

If I am reading this right it sounds like there is too big a gap between the brass fitting and the hose. When you clamp down on the hose it is causing a wrinkle in the hose and screwing up your seal. Two things you can do, buy a smaller diameter hose or a larger diameter fitting.

If you are worried about the pressure you should be able to back that off by closing the hose bib (faucet) a bit.

 

[cjeanean]

That is an AWESOME idea!!! I'm gonna use it this spring!!! Now if only I could figure out what to do this winter....

For a modification, it *might* work if you use a 55 gal rain barrel and a floating water heater. Instead of hooking the hose up to it you hook the spigot in the rain barrel up to it and put the floating heater in the barrel to keep the water from freezing. Problem is I don't know if it would keep the water warm enough to prevent the spigot from freezing, cause there won't be enough constant water flow to keep it from icing up. The water in the barrel will be fine, but that little bit in the hose/spigot may present a problem.

Anyone got any experience with rain barrels and heaters??? Does the spigot freeze???

 

[LynneP]

..and if you think there's any crud in one of the fitting, causing a leak, you can usually clean it with vinegar or CLR...

 

[ams3651]

I remember seeing someone on here who had attached a 20 gallon (?) ice chest to the waterer so they didnt have to refill so often.

 

[Peepthis541]

I fixed the leak. I tightened the hose clamp with my drill. Previously, I tightened it by hand, but I guess the drill provided a little more torque and pressure on it to clamp down enough so it doesn't leak anymore.

 

[ginbart]

Way to go. You did it.